Darin’s Crossworlds Blog

One more comic story under my belt, and definitely the longest one I’ve ever drawn to date. The biggest thing I learned while doing this one what how to draw Karl. It was during this comic that his design has really jelled and his look has come to be.

The other big thing I learned is how many things can happen in life when you’re trying to get a comic done. A move down to North Carolina was a big cause for many of the long delays in this last story line, but not the only one.

I suffer from Clinical Depression and mood swings, and there are too damn many times that I simply can’t bring myself to draw. Sometimes art flows like water and sometimes like toothpaste. As I’m writing this I’m pretty low. Not rock bottom, (Thanks to the meds) but defiantly not in the best of spirits. That’s why the last 2 pages of this comic took so long to do, and why the next story hasn’t started yet. There are a number of other problems in my life right now that are not helping me out either. I’m sure that I’ll get through them however.

I hope to get the next story started soon, maybe have a short 3 pager in there first, but Crossworlds is here to stay!

Ah conventions how I love and hate them.

The good part about conventions is that you’re surrounded by friends and other people who are interested in the things you like. You can relax and show off your inner geek. Sadly there are also about a thousand other fartwits who show up and try their best to ruin things.

They might be the unbathed stink factories, or the painfully socially inept freaks that are all too creepy, they might bitch about how rude Lue Ferrigno is when he ignored them calling out to his back not knowing that he is in fact mostly deaf, they could even be the type of people who truly believe that they will one day marry wonder woman but only if they shoot Batman to impress her.

But I’m not here to complain about them right now, I’m here to complain about another cancer of fandom.

You know the people who go to a lot of trouble and use a lot of talent and skill to make and dress up in lavish and fantastic costumes. Well they’re cool. However do you know the ones who hunt those people down to take photos of their fine craftsmanship (and often the body underneath)? Well it turns out that there are two types of these photographers.

One type is a normal human being who means no harm and simply wants mementos of the clever and entertaining costumes people have. These people are also ok in my book. But then there’s the other type, a loathsome festering creature worthy only of contempt and ridicule. Let me show you the difference between these two types.

http://www.crossworlds.ws/things/concamera.gif

Just as trash is different when its in a garbage bin vs pored on the floor so are photographers different when they take pictures in nice open areas vs tiny cramped fire hazard death traps. Now I realize that in a crowded con finding an open spot is sometimes difficult but people do not have the right to block traffic for up to a minute as they fool around with their cameras to take a stupid picture.

Now this is not just a one way street. If you happen to be in a suit and are letting one of these people take a picture of you then you too are at fault, though honestly not as at fault since you went to a lot of time and effort to dress up as Baroness in skin tight leather, your soft supple form writhing underneath, your glasses perched on your lovely nose, your eyes staring deep into mine as you… ahem, sorry. While the other person only brought a damn camera.

So if you happen to be one of these people who will stop up traffic just to get a shot of a hot chick dressed as She Hulk its not too late. Simple follow her like a normal person till she’s in an open place and then politely ask her if you may take her picture. It’s that simple, and you will no longer be a member of the “THOSE PEOPLE LIST” from before.

 And for the rest of us it’s our responsibility to ruin the shot of any jagoff who tries to take pictures and block halls. From now on don’t wait till they have taken their precious photo, just plow right through their line of sight. If we all work together to make sure that no one can take these types of pictures then maybe they will learn not to be stupid and the world will be a better place. Or at least you get the joy of ticking of an inconsiderate jerk.

Furries 

The term conjures revulsion, anger and, fear. It’s a tricky issue online where even the most innocent opinions can turn into World War 5. In fact I’ve found that one of the few things more frightening than the worst furry fans are some of the anti furry individuals.

Whether I like it or not Crossworlds is considered by many to be a furry comic. I also used to be a furry artist. Many would say that I still am. So it’s important to me to address the issue.

What’s wrong with Furries?

Honestly, nothing, however the same can not be claimed for many of the fans. Now it’s here that I must state that the vast majority of people who like furries are of course sane, clean and pleasant human beings. But, WOW, the ones who aren’t… they make up for the rest and then some!!

Most people like furries in one form or another. Bugs Bunny is a beloved character from our child hoods, and many of us grew up with either a dog or a cat. The problem that most people have with furries however stems from the Erotic aspect that many people give to them. Sonic the Hedge Hog or Tiny Toons porn is… Lets be honest it’s weird! Maybe not wrong, but defiantly weird.

I’ve been to Anime, comic, Sci Fi and Furry cons, so I’m able to compare the different types of fandom, and one of the obvious discrepancies between them is the erotic aspect. In a Sci Fi or Comic con there is a lot of cheese cake art, sculpture, and costumes, but the out and out erotica/porn level is quite low. To assign an arbitrary number say 5% is devoted to such things.

At an Anime con the erotic level goes up quite a bit. Japan is… Well let’s not get into that. However the true Erotica/porn level is still only about 20%

At the three Furry cons I’ve been to it was around 80%

Erotica makes many people uneasy. Even more so when it’s not your standard run of the mill smut. Toss in anatomically correct cartoon animals, anatomically correct plush animals and people in fur suits making out…Well it’s enough to freak out anyone.

For some reason unlike Trekies, Comic Geeks, or even Otaku, Furry fandom has become a fetish. Yes, most Furry fans actually have no interest in shagging a real life furry, but there are a LOT who do. All too many Furry fans flaunt their non standard sexuality. They take pride in it and consequently they cause problems for those of us who don’t.

It’s even worse since furries have a LOT of crossover with children. Every kid likes Micky Mouse! Sadly so do many furry fetishists. The same problems crept up early with erotic anime and other cartoons. Too many kids were exposed to cartoons that they had no business seeing. However the Anime community quickly realized the problems they could get into and have policed themselves pretty well. The Furry community appears to be much slower in doing the same. Anything erotic that involves children, even if they are firmly on the sidelines has some major public opinion problems. Mix in the people who actively like “Cubbies” and parental alarms start going off.

So, what’s wrong with the Furry community? I would say it’s the over all attitude of letting people do whatever the hell they please. Like it or not, people who find cartoon animals sexy are viewed by others as weirdos. Ignoring public opinion does not help. Early on the furry community was “Hijacked” by the fetish. And it’s this view that most of the public now sees. There is nothing wrong with having an oddball fetish that hurts no one, but keeping it under wraps is often a good idea. The bondage community tries not to shove their fantasies in the faces of others. The furry community needs a major face lift, and it is getting one, though it is going to take some time to erase much of the damage that has already been done.

A lot of people have been panicking lately due to the Orphan Works bill. A lot of Blogsters have been over hyping this as the beginning of the end times. But honestly its not a big deal, infact its nothing at all.  

This isn’t the first time this has been tried and it’s been shot down every time it has. Not just by the little man but by the big honking corporations that people think are behind this. Copyrights are HUGE business, and the threat to a big company of losing any of their copyrights gives them far more cold sweats than any internet artist. So don’t worry, we’ve got the big guns on our side!

Second the Orphan Works bill has already been in existence and on the books since the 1960s. No crap! The Artist R. Crumb once drew and image of a guy with big feet walking along with the caption “Keep on Truckin” A small company took the image with out his permission and started making buttons and tee shirts with the image on them. Mr. Crumb new about this but did nothing, until her found out that they had made a few million dollars off his image.

He did a reasonable thing and sued them. However the judge told him that it was too late. Since he didn’t defend his copyright at any time in the past on that image the company who stole it had a reasonable expectation of ownership. R. Crumb had Orphaned his image and someone adopted it. If he had bothered to send them even one cease and desist order he would have had a case. A copyright that you do not defend is no longer yours.

The Orphan works bill just wants to make cases like this a little more cut and dried, something that you don’t necessarily need a judge to decide on. However as it’s worded now it’s not a good idea. But that’s why it will once again get shot down. You name a corporation and they stand to lose millions if this goes through, and they are NOT going to let that happen.

So in this one case Trust in big business. They’re in this fight with us.

Well I’ll be moving in the near future down to North Carolina. This is going to screw with the comic sadly. It already is. To move I have to sell the house, to sell the house I have to clean it. And I am a heck of a pack rat! So cleaning is taking a lot of time. I’m going through old art old models and old toys and tossing/selling a whole lot of stuff.

I’m going to be keeping up the dual updates a week as best I can, but its going to be tricky until the house is up to snuff. they Drawing will be Ok for a while until the actual move. Then, well Thom and I are trying to get a guest artist ready for you guys.

Shina and Nev have not made their appearance yet in the comic, but wow do I want to do a story with them. Even a short one. But I have at least a month before this curent story line is over and I can fit a filler in. Fortunately Karl’s about to go on a rampage and thats going to be a lot of fun to draw. Maybe I could o my own Sunday filler with some of the unknown characters.

So much to draw so little time.

So what all would you guys like me to talk about in this Blog? My views on the characters, how I draw, what techniques I use, my inspiration, what I had for lunch…?

So what to write about? Well last night was fun, got a lot of art done and drank a fair amount. Not too much but It was St Patrick’s day and I am half Irish.

I’ll Be moveing soon down to North Carolina so my life is going to get spastic for a while. But Thom has already lined up a filler artist for the time I’m out.

But now I must eat some Corn Beef and Cabbage.